5 Horror Books to Match with Your Favorite Tarot Cards

A perennial favorite, the Lovers card conjures up images of sweeping romances and happily ever afters. But then again, love doesn’t always end well, does it? The Lovers card also takes that into account, the same way that the horror genre does.

And if you’re seeking out a quick read that explores the pitfalls and dangers of love, look no further than Delilah S. Dawnson’s novella, Bloom, which is forthcoming from Titan Books. Rosemary and Ash have a meet-cute at a farmers market, but things aren’t always what they seem. This is a couple headed down a particularly dark and dangerous path. Highly recommended for horror fans who enjoy a heavy dose of romance with their terror. 

For anyone who regularly reads tarot, then you probably already know that the one word that often comes up with the Devil card is addiction. Sometimes, it’s an addiction to substances; other times, it’s an addiction to ideas, people, or things. Regardless, the figures in the Devil card are indeed chained, though if you look closely, those chains are loose and could possibly be removed at any time.

If you want a perfect anthology that explores addiction head-on, then Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror is exactly what you’re looking for. Christa Carmen’s Bram Stoker Award-nominated novelette, “Through the Looking Glass and Straight Into Hell,” is worth the price of admission alone.

Without a doubt, Alma Katsu is one of the hardest-working and most talented authors in horror. Her keen insight and razor-sharp prose will leave you breathless as you rocket through her tales, filled with terror of both the supernatural kind and everyday humankind. There are so many amazing books from her oeuvre to choose from: The Fervor, The Deep, The Hunger, and the list goes on and on.

When it comes to pairing her work with the tarot, the first thought that came to mind was the Moon and her award-winning story, “The Wehrwolf.” Released last year, this story is further proof of Katsu’s undeniable skill as one of literature’s top writers working today. Set in the end days of World War II, this is a monster tale like no other. And of course, you can’t go wrong with werewolves and moon energy. 

You probably already know this, but just in case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s a well-known fact of the genre: acclaimed author Cassandra Khaw has been tearing up the horror industry in all the best ways for several years now. Their latest book, The Salt Grows Heavy, is garnering much-deserved praise everywhere you look.

However, if you’re seeking a perfect tarot pairing, then we have to go with their bestselling novella, Nothing But Blackened Teeth, released in 2021 from Tor Nightfire. Khaw’s terrifying character of the ghost bride is the ultimate horror incarnation of the High Priestess: powerful, all-knowing, and mysterious, all while bringing an undeniable feminine energy. This is a tarot and horror match that will haunt your nightmares long after you’ve turned the last page.   

This choice might be a little on the nose, but there’s truly no better card to encapsulate Rebecca J. Allred and Gordon B. White’s Bram Stoker Award-nominated novella than the World card. The World in tarot represents the zenith of the Major Arcana, where everything you’ve learned so far comes together at once.

Likewise, And In Her Smile, the World represents a kind of culmination of all the incredible skills that both Allred and White have demonstrated over the years as writers: unique setups, haunting prose, and characters that are truly unforgettable. Fortunately, while the World card is the end of the Major Arcana, this is just the beginning for both Rebecca J. Allred and Gordon B. White, so be sure to read everything they’ve written and also put all their new work promptly on your TBR list.